Rent control or not? Debate focuses on whether controls would help or make things worse

Council members Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata took on state Rep. Matt Manweller and Smart Growth Seattle lobbyist Roger Valdez in a debate over whether rent control would help or hurt the housing crisis in Seattle. Photo: Daniel DeMay/SeattlePI.com

A feisty Town Hall debate Monday evening over rent control for Seattle circled the central question of whether such controls would solve the housing crisis or make it worse.

Seattle City Council members Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata debated with state Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, and Roger Valdez, of the group Smart Growth Seattle, around major questions about rent control.

Sawant and Licata are pushing for a resolution in the council that would ask state legislators to repeal a 1981 law that banned rent controls in Washington state.

But while they said rent control would set aside housing for low- and middle-income earners and allow them to live in the city, Manweller and Valdez argued that rent control would stifle development and ultimately lead to a bigger shortage of housing in Seattle.

“Rent control isn’t even legal,” Valdez said before a packed Seattle Town Hall. “We need solutions now, today.”

Moderator Peter Steinbrueck, a former city councilman himself who now runs a firm that consults on urban planning among other things, began the debate by pointing out that the housing crisis is very real in Seattle. And while several solutions have been offered up — including a proposal from Mayor Ed Murray released last week — none has been as controversial as rent control, Steinbrueck said.

People gather outside Seattle Town Hall Monday evening, waiting to get in for a debate over whether rent control would help or hurt the housing crisis in Seattle. Photo: Daniel DeMay/SeattlePI.com

Through four questions and opening and closing statements, the participants debated the causes of the housing crisis in Seattle, the effects of rent control where it has been used, what the impact might be in Seattle and whether or not the housing market could solve the problem on its own.

Licata and Sawant argued, in several ways, that the housing market isn’t solving the problem and even with the mayor’s plan, which includes requiring a certain percentage of new developments to include affordable housing, rent control is still necessary.

“We have a huge gap in the demand for affordable housing and the supply,” Licata said. “And that supply will never catch up with demand.”

Valdez blamed city council members for making the city too expensive to build in, and driving the rents up themselves, while Manweller cited a handful of studies — several from the 1990s — that found rent control to be a failure for creating more affordable housing.

A majority of the probably close to 800-person crowd showed their pro-rent control spirit through deafening cheers after Sawant or Licata spoke and a handful of outbursts at Valdez and Manweller.

Hundreds gather inside Seattle Town Hall Monday evening to hear a debate over whether or not rent control could help the Seattle housing crisis. Photo: Daniel DeMay/SeattlePI.com

Sawant called several times for supporters to help lead a movement to push for the ban on rent control to be lifted, but she also pointed out that rent control alone would not solve the problem — it’s just a key part of a broad program to make housing more affordable in Seattle, she said.

“We obviously need a comprehensive housing program,” Sawant said. “I support the HALA recommendations, I don’t think they go far enough. But without rent control being part of that … there is really no answer to the fact that rents are skyrocketing.”

Licata said one resolution asking the legislature to lift the ban is already active in a council committee, but if that isn’t moving forward, he intends to bring another resolution for a vote next Monday.

With all nine council seats up for election this year, it’s likely the housing issue will become a major factor in both the primary and general elections.

Daniel DeMay covers Seattle culture and business and can be reached at 206-448-8362 or at DanielDeMay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay